Aaron Vale of Williston, Fla., qualified two of his mounts for the jump-off in the HITS $50,000 Grand Prix on Feb. 4, and he won the class on Finou 4 with a clean round in 46.977, almost two full seconds ahead of second placed Keely McIntosh on So Live Helau, clear in 48.834, which was only a half a second faster than third place rider, Kyle Timm; representing Canada, who finished in 49.398.
Aaron Vale on Finou 4Vale also placed fourth on Cassevel, and closing out the top five was Dr. Fernando Cardenas on Valentine Car with a jump-off time of 49.853.
The HITS Ocala Winter Circuit has wrapped up for Week III at HITS Post Time Farm in Ocala, Florida, with extremely competitive riders and horses.
On Wednesday, Jan. 31,Vale opened the week by placing second, third, and sixth place ribbons aboard Stakko, Major and Exclusive, respectively in the $5,000 Johnson Horse Transportation Open Welcome class, which Tracy Magness won for the second week in a row on Intenz Van HD with a jump-off time of 48.834.
Emanuel Andrade of Wellington, Fla., also had a very successful week.
ON THURSDAY, Andrade won the $25,000 Grand Prix on Bon Jovi with a jump-off time of 47.519 over Brooke Kemper on Classified with a jump-off time of 48.210.
In the $10,000 Open Prix on Friday, Andrade, for the second week in a row, took the win aboard Anastasia du Park with a jump-off time of 39.003 over Rowan Willison on Blue Movie, who finished in 40.139.
In the $10,000 1.35m Classic, Andrade again dominated the ring, taking home first, second, and fifth place honors on Boy IV, Jenni's Chance and Garcino van de Lijnsaerd, respectively.
In the Hunter rings, riders who competed in the $5,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix and $1,500 Platinum Performance Hunter Prix earned points toward qualifying for the HITS Championships that will take place in Saugerties, N. Y., September 5-9.
Molly Dinapoli won the $5,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix with Carlucino with a combined score of 162.5. In second was Amanda Steege on Lafitte de Muze with a combined score of 162, only half a point away from defending their title from Week II, and Harold Chopping on Gold Rush was third with their combined score of 161.
In the $1,500 Platinum Performance Hunter Prix, Grace Debney took home the blue ribbon aboard Carla.
Their combined score was an impressive 170.
In second place was Lily Rusis and Lincom's Close Up, with a combined score of 165, and third was Lily Toensing on Consanto with a two-round score of 153.
